Jack rath



J. BATH.

HARP.

(No Model.)

Patented Nov. 1, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACK RATH, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

HARP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 485,354, dated November1, 1892.

Application filed December 7,1891. Serial No. 414,345. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACK RATH, acitizen of the United States, residing'at Jackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan, have`invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Adjustingthe Strings of the Harp, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings on one sheet,and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

This invention relates to the mechanism whereby the effective lengths ofthe strings are changed for producing naturals and j sharps, and whichis known as the action of the harp, and has particular reference to thedevices whereby each of the forks which are connected with the samepedal can be individually adjusted relatively to the strings withoutaffecting the adjustment of the other forks connected with such pedal.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and convenientadjusting device of this kind.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a fragmentary side elevationof the head of a single-action harp containing my improvement andshowing different adjustments of the sharping-pins. Fig. 2 is across-section of the head through one of the sharping-disks, thesharping-pins and a part of the spindle being shown in elevation. Fig. 3is a detached side elevation of one of such disks and its connectingparts, showing the parts separated. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. l,showing a modified construction of the adjusting devices of thesharping-disks. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the sharping-disk andconnecting parts embodying such modi- Iication. modified construction,showing the parts separated. Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of asharping-disk and connecting parts, showing another modified form of theadjusting device.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the head of the harp; B, the strings; C, the pegs, to whichthe upper ends of the strings are fastened, and O the pins, againstwhich the upper portions of the strings rest.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of such D are the oscillating disks, whichcarry the sharping forks or pins d, between which latter the upperportions of the strings pass in the usual manner, and e are thehorizontal rock-shafts or spindles upon which the sharping-disks aremounted and which turn in bearings formed in the side plates of the headA.

E is the usual arm or lever, whereby the spindle is turned, and E therod connecting the same with the pedal, which latter is not shown in thedrawings. Each sharping-disk is provided centrally with aninternallythreaded opening f, which engages with an externalscrew-thread f', formed on the outer projecting end of the spindle. Thescrewthreaded portion of the spindle is preferably reduced, as shown, toform a shoulder f2.

g is a collar, flange, or washer arranged upon the threaded portion ofthe spindle and resting against the shoulder f2 thereof, the collarbeing provided with a central opening through which the spindle passes.

In the construction represented in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the inner portionsof the sharpingpins d are externally screw-threaded and engage inthreaded openings h, formed in the sharping-disk ondiametrically-opposite sides of the spindle. The inner ends of thesharping-pins project inwardlybeyond the disk and bear against the outerside of the collar or flange g, thereby forming stops, which firmly holdthe disk against turning upon the threaded stem of the spindle when theinner ends of the pins bear against the washer. The screw-threadedsharping-pins thus act as adj ustable stops, which can be adj usted toprevent the rotative movement of the disk on the spindle when the pinsare in the desired position. The sharping pins are preferably formed attheir outer ends with milled heads il, whereby they may be convenientlyturned, or, if desired, the heads may be nicked to receive ascrew-driver. Upon loosening the adjustable pins the disk is releasedand can be turned in either direction on its spindle to bring thesharping-pins into the required position to properly bear against thestrings when the pedal is depressed. After the disk has been adjusted itis again secured in position by tightening the sharping-pins against thewasher.

ICO

In the drawings the spindle is represented as having a right-handscrew-thread, and its actuating-lever E is arranged on the left-handside thereof, so that the depression of the pedal tends to tighten thesharping-disk on the spindle. The lever may, however, be arranged on theright-hand side of the spindle by providing the latter with a left-handthread and the disk with a corresponding internal thread. The flange,collar, or Washer g is preferably separate from the spindle, as shown;but, if desired, it may be formed integrally therewith, and if thespindle is large in diameter the shoulder surrounding the screw-stem mayserve as this llange.

In the modified construction of my improvement shown in Figs. 4, 5, and6 the sharping-pins d are rigidly secured to or formed with the disk D',and separate stopscrews j are employed, which are arranged in threadedopenings in the disk and bear with their inner ends against the frontside of the collar or flange g. Upon loosening the screw j thesharping-disk can be adjusted to the desired position on thescrew-thread of the spindle, as in the first-described construction, andafter effecting the adjustment the screws are again tightened to securethe disk against rotation on the spindle.

In the modification of the invention shown in Fig. 7 the sharping-pinsare rigidly attaehed to the disk, and the latter is adjustable on thescrew-stem of the spindle, and separate clamping-screws 7c are employed,as in the construction represented in Figs. et, 5, and 6 but thesescrews, instead of being arranged in threaded openings in thesharpingdisk and bearing against the collar or [lange g2 of the spindle,are arranged in threaded openings Z in said collar and bear with theirheads against the rear side of the disk.

In the constructions illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 twoclamping-screws are shown; but, if desired, a single screw may be used.

The constructions represented in Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 can be readilyapplied to harps of ordinary construction already in existence, in whichthe pins are rigidly secured to the disks, while the constructionrepresented in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 is more desirable for new harps.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with the spindle having aflange or collar and a screw-stem projecting outwardly beyond saidflange or collar, of an adjustable sharping-disk having a threadedopening engaging with the screwstein of the spindle and a stop-screwwhereby the adjustable sharping-disk is held away from the flange orcollar and prevented from turning on the screw-stem of the spindle,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the spindle h aving a flange or collar and ascrew-stein projeeting outwardly beyond said flange or collar, of anadjustable disk arranged upon said screw-stem and sharping-pins havingscrewthreads engaging in threaded openings in the sharping-disk andbearing with their innerends against the flange or collar of thespindle, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof Iaiix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JACK RATE.

Witnesses:

GEO. S. WILSON, C. H. BROWN.

